About
Artist Statement
I am an African-American interdisciplinary artist exploring the representation of Black communities within historical and cultural narratives. My work reimagines familiar stories by reflecting on the past—often weaving timelines together, bridging reality with the imagined—to create new visual dialogues. Drawing inspiration from literature such as folktales, biblical texts, poetry, novels, and oral traditions, I examine what these varied perspectives reveal and inspire.
Through my practice, I aim to amplify Black visibility by honoring diasporic stories and storytellers. I use narrative-rich mediums like braiding, quilting, weaving, and collage to convey layered concepts rooted in collective memory and cultural legacy.
While my work shifts between figuration and abstraction, vibrant color and grounded neutrals; braided hair remains a central motif. These braids function as unconventional storytelling agents—serving as portals, aerial landscapes, quilt stitches and cultural tapestries—while celebrating the beauty and cultural significance of Black hair.
Though my work is created with Black audiences in mind, it invites all viewers to reconsider the origins of dominant narratives and reflect on their historical and cultural impact.
Biography
Autumn Spears (b. 1998) is a Washington, DC native whose art serves as a powerful medium for reimagining Black histories and diasporic narratives. Her upbringing in communities of color, while simultaneously navigating predominantly white institutions, has profoundly shaped her identity and artistic vision. These contrasting environments have ignited her interest in exploring black representation and identity across the African diaspora.
In 2020 she received her BFA in Art Education from Albright College. In 2023, Spears held her inaugural solo exhibition, "Becoming," at the Freedman Gallery in Reading, Pennsylvania. This milestone event showcased her distinctive style and marked the beginning of a promising artistic journey. Additionally, Spears’ work has been featured in local cultural institutions such as the MLK Memorial Library, Charles Sumner School, Anacostia Arts Center, and the Anacostia Community Museum. Spears is also a 2024 DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities grant recipient.